diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 1f08ef19521..e1126428e79 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 
 * Fix #5580: [java-generator] Correctly handle defaults for IntOrString types
 * Fix #5584: Fix CRD generation when EnumMap is used
+* Fix #5626: Prevent memory accumulation from informer usage
 
 #### Improvements
 * Fix #5429: moved crd generator annotations to generator-annotations instead of crd-generator-api. Using generator-annotations introduces no transitive dependencies.
diff --git a/httpclient-jdk/src/main/java/io/fabric8/kubernetes/client/jdkhttp/JdkHttpClientBuilderImpl.java b/httpclient-jdk/src/main/java/io/fabric8/kubernetes/client/jdkhttp/JdkHttpClientBuilderImpl.java
index 8e4f2bb9928..6309b2f827e 100644
--- a/httpclient-jdk/src/main/java/io/fabric8/kubernetes/client/jdkhttp/JdkHttpClientBuilderImpl.java
+++ b/httpclient-jdk/src/main/java/io/fabric8/kubernetes/client/jdkhttp/JdkHttpClientBuilderImpl.java
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
 import java.net.http.HttpClient.Redirect;
 import java.net.http.HttpClient.Version;
 import java.util.Arrays;
+import java.util.concurrent.atomic.AtomicBoolean;
 
 import javax.net.ssl.SSLParameters;
 
@@ -48,7 +49,7 @@ public JdkHttpClientBuilderImpl(JdkHttpClientFactory factory) {
   @Override
   public HttpClient build() {
     if (client != null) {
-      return new JdkHttpClientImpl(this, client.getHttpClient());
+      return new JdkHttpClientImpl(this, client.getHttpClient(), client.getClosed());
     }
     java.net.http.HttpClient.Builder builder = clientFactory.createNewHttpClientBuilder();
     if (connectTimeout != null && !java.time.Duration.ZERO.equals(connectTimeout)) {
@@ -78,7 +79,7 @@ public HttpClient build() {
           Arrays.asList(tlsVersions).stream().map(TlsVersion::javaName).toArray(String[]::new)));
     }
     clientFactory.additionalConfig(builder);
-    return new JdkHttpClientImpl(this, builder.build());
+    return new JdkHttpClientImpl(this, builder.build(), new AtomicBoolean());
   }
 
   @Override
diff --git a/httpclient-jdk/src/main/java/io/fabric8/kubernetes/client/jdkhttp/JdkHttpClientImpl.java b/httpclient-jdk/src/main/java/io/fabric8/kubernetes/client/jdkhttp/JdkHttpClientImpl.java
index 27fc3721ace..7fbe4f2724b 100644
--- a/httpclient-jdk/src/main/java/io/fabric8/kubernetes/client/jdkhttp/JdkHttpClientImpl.java
+++ b/httpclient-jdk/src/main/java/io/fabric8/kubernetes/client/jdkhttp/JdkHttpClientImpl.java
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@
 import java.util.concurrent.Flow;
 import java.util.concurrent.Flow.Subscriber;
 import java.util.concurrent.Flow.Subscription;
+import java.util.concurrent.atomic.AtomicBoolean;
 import java.util.stream.Collectors;
 
 import static io.fabric8.kubernetes.client.http.StandardHttpHeaders.CONTENT_TYPE;
@@ -223,13 +224,13 @@ public Optional<HttpResponse<?>> previousResponse() {
 
   private java.net.http.HttpClient httpClient;
 
-  public JdkHttpClientImpl(JdkHttpClientBuilderImpl builder, HttpClient httpClient) {
-    super(builder);
+  public JdkHttpClientImpl(JdkHttpClientBuilderImpl builder, HttpClient httpClient, AtomicBoolean closed) {
+    super(builder, closed);
     this.httpClient = httpClient;
   }
 
   @Override
-  public void close() {
+  public void doClose() {
     if (this.httpClient == null) {
       return;
     }
diff --git a/httpclient-jetty/src/main/java/io/fabric8/kubernetes/client/jetty/JettyHttpClient.java b/httpclient-jetty/src/main/java/io/fabric8/kubernetes/client/jetty/JettyHttpClient.java
index ff34b006e3b..81102911bb1 100644
--- a/httpclient-jetty/src/main/java/io/fabric8/kubernetes/client/jetty/JettyHttpClient.java
+++ b/httpclient-jetty/src/main/java/io/fabric8/kubernetes/client/jetty/JettyHttpClient.java
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@
 import java.util.concurrent.CompletableFuture;
 import java.util.concurrent.CompletionException;
 import java.util.concurrent.TimeUnit;
+import java.util.concurrent.atomic.AtomicBoolean;
 
 import static io.fabric8.kubernetes.client.http.BufferUtil.copy;
 import static io.fabric8.kubernetes.client.http.StandardMediaTypes.APPLICATION_OCTET_STREAM;
@@ -61,13 +62,18 @@ public class JettyHttpClient extends StandardHttpClient<JettyHttpClient, JettyHt
 
   public JettyHttpClient(StandardHttpClientBuilder<JettyHttpClient, JettyHttpClientFactory, JettyHttpClientBuilder> builder,
       HttpClient jetty, WebSocketClient jettyWs) {
-    super(builder);
+    this(builder, jetty, jettyWs, new AtomicBoolean());
+  }
+
+  public JettyHttpClient(StandardHttpClientBuilder<JettyHttpClient, JettyHttpClientFactory, JettyHttpClientBuilder> builder,
+      HttpClient jetty, WebSocketClient jettyWs, AtomicBoolean closed) {
+    super(builder, closed);
     this.jetty = jetty;
     this.jettyWs = jettyWs;
   }
 
   @Override
-  public void close() {
+  public void doClose() {
     try {
       jetty.stop();
       jettyWs.stop();
diff --git a/httpclient-jetty/src/main/java/io/fabric8/kubernetes/client/jetty/JettyHttpClientBuilder.java b/httpclient-jetty/src/main/java/io/fabric8/kubernetes/client/jetty/JettyHttpClientBuilder.java
index 219981848c4..8dcee987918 100644
--- a/httpclient-jetty/src/main/java/io/fabric8/kubernetes/client/jetty/JettyHttpClientBuilder.java
+++ b/httpclient-jetty/src/main/java/io/fabric8/kubernetes/client/jetty/JettyHttpClientBuilder.java
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ public JettyHttpClientBuilder(JettyHttpClientFactory clientFactory) {
   @Override
   public JettyHttpClient build() {
     if (client != null) {
-      return new JettyHttpClient(this, client.getJetty(), client.getJettyWs());
+      return new JettyHttpClient(this, client.getJetty(), client.getJettyWs(), client.getClosed());
     }
     final var sslContextFactory = new SslContextFactory.Client();
     if (sslContext != null) {
diff --git a/httpclient-okhttp/src/main/java/io/fabric8/kubernetes/client/okhttp/OkHttpClientBuilderImpl.java b/httpclient-okhttp/src/main/java/io/fabric8/kubernetes/client/okhttp/OkHttpClientBuilderImpl.java
index ae89df21e30..f05d63fb3ca 100644
--- a/httpclient-okhttp/src/main/java/io/fabric8/kubernetes/client/okhttp/OkHttpClientBuilderImpl.java
+++ b/httpclient-okhttp/src/main/java/io/fabric8/kubernetes/client/okhttp/OkHttpClientBuilderImpl.java
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
 import java.net.Proxy;
 import java.util.Arrays;
 import java.util.Collections;
+import java.util.concurrent.atomic.AtomicBoolean;
 
 import javax.net.ssl.X509TrustManager;
 
@@ -119,7 +120,7 @@ private OkHttpClientImpl completeBuild(okhttp3.OkHttpClient.Builder builder, boo
 
     OkHttpClient client = builder.build();
 
-    return new OkHttpClientImpl(client, this);
+    return new OkHttpClientImpl(client, this, new AtomicBoolean());
   }
 
   @Override
diff --git a/httpclient-okhttp/src/main/java/io/fabric8/kubernetes/client/okhttp/OkHttpClientImpl.java b/httpclient-okhttp/src/main/java/io/fabric8/kubernetes/client/okhttp/OkHttpClientImpl.java
index f2bfd38e2a3..bd276bb0efe 100644
--- a/httpclient-okhttp/src/main/java/io/fabric8/kubernetes/client/okhttp/OkHttpClientImpl.java
+++ b/httpclient-okhttp/src/main/java/io/fabric8/kubernetes/client/okhttp/OkHttpClientImpl.java
@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@
 import java.util.concurrent.Executor;
 import java.util.concurrent.ExecutorService;
 import java.util.concurrent.RejectedExecutionException;
+import java.util.concurrent.atomic.AtomicBoolean;
 import java.util.function.Function;
 
 public class OkHttpClientImpl extends StandardHttpClient<OkHttpClientImpl, OkHttpClientFactory, OkHttpClientBuilderImpl> {
@@ -241,13 +242,13 @@ public Map<String, List<String>> headers() {
 
   private final okhttp3.OkHttpClient httpClient;
 
-  public OkHttpClientImpl(OkHttpClient client, OkHttpClientBuilderImpl builder) {
-    super(builder);
+  public OkHttpClientImpl(OkHttpClient client, OkHttpClientBuilderImpl builder, AtomicBoolean closed) {
+    super(builder, closed);
     this.httpClient = client;
   }
 
   @Override
-  public void close() {
+  public void doClose() {
     ConnectionPool connectionPool = httpClient.connectionPool();
 
     Dispatcher dispatcher = httpClient.dispatcher();
diff --git a/httpclient-vertx/src/main/java/io/fabric8/kubernetes/client/vertx/VertxHttpClient.java b/httpclient-vertx/src/main/java/io/fabric8/kubernetes/client/vertx/VertxHttpClient.java
index 55e9d69e190..ddbec8b2c8b 100644
--- a/httpclient-vertx/src/main/java/io/fabric8/kubernetes/client/vertx/VertxHttpClient.java
+++ b/httpclient-vertx/src/main/java/io/fabric8/kubernetes/client/vertx/VertxHttpClient.java
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@
 import java.util.List;
 import java.util.Optional;
 import java.util.concurrent.CompletableFuture;
+import java.util.concurrent.atomic.AtomicBoolean;
 
 import static io.fabric8.kubernetes.client.vertx.VertxHttpRequest.toHeadersMap;
 
@@ -43,8 +44,8 @@ public class VertxHttpClient<F extends io.fabric8.kubernetes.client.http.HttpCli
   private final Vertx vertx;
   private final HttpClient client;
 
-  VertxHttpClient(VertxHttpClientBuilder<F> vertxHttpClientBuilder, HttpClient client) {
-    super(vertxHttpClientBuilder);
+  VertxHttpClient(VertxHttpClientBuilder<F> vertxHttpClientBuilder, HttpClient client, AtomicBoolean closed) {
+    super(vertxHttpClientBuilder, closed);
     this.vertx = vertxHttpClientBuilder.vertx;
     this.client = client;
   }
@@ -119,7 +120,7 @@ public CompletableFuture<HttpResponse<AsyncBody>> consumeBytesDirect(StandardHtt
   }
 
   @Override
-  public void close() {
+  public void doClose() {
     client.close();
   }
 
diff --git a/httpclient-vertx/src/main/java/io/fabric8/kubernetes/client/vertx/VertxHttpClientBuilder.java b/httpclient-vertx/src/main/java/io/fabric8/kubernetes/client/vertx/VertxHttpClientBuilder.java
index c6fb8114ccf..1010f8c4a31 100644
--- a/httpclient-vertx/src/main/java/io/fabric8/kubernetes/client/vertx/VertxHttpClientBuilder.java
+++ b/httpclient-vertx/src/main/java/io/fabric8/kubernetes/client/vertx/VertxHttpClientBuilder.java
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@
 import java.util.Arrays;
 import java.util.HashSet;
 import java.util.concurrent.TimeUnit;
+import java.util.concurrent.atomic.AtomicBoolean;
 import java.util.stream.Stream;
 
 public class VertxHttpClientBuilder<F extends HttpClient.Factory>
@@ -52,7 +53,7 @@ public VertxHttpClientBuilder(F clientFactory, Vertx vertx) {
   @Override
   public VertxHttpClient<F> build() {
     if (this.client != null) {
-      return new VertxHttpClient<>(this, this.client.getClient());
+      return new VertxHttpClient<>(this, this.client.getClient(), this.client.getClosed());
     }
 
     WebClientOptions options = new WebClientOptions();
@@ -115,7 +116,7 @@ public SslContextFactory sslContextFactory() {
         }
       });
     }
-    return new VertxHttpClient<>(this, vertx.createHttpClient(options));
+    return new VertxHttpClient<>(this, vertx.createHttpClient(options), new AtomicBoolean());
   }
 
   @Override
diff --git a/kubernetes-client-api/src/main/java/io/fabric8/kubernetes/client/http/HttpClient.java b/kubernetes-client-api/src/main/java/io/fabric8/kubernetes/client/http/HttpClient.java
index d8f71d7b168..78270e17e41 100644
--- a/kubernetes-client-api/src/main/java/io/fabric8/kubernetes/client/http/HttpClient.java
+++ b/kubernetes-client-api/src/main/java/io/fabric8/kubernetes/client/http/HttpClient.java
@@ -167,4 +167,6 @@ interface Builder extends DerivedClientBuilder {
 
   HttpRequest.Builder newHttpRequestBuilder();
 
+  boolean isClosed();
+
 }
diff --git a/kubernetes-client-api/src/main/java/io/fabric8/kubernetes/client/http/StandardHttpClient.java b/kubernetes-client-api/src/main/java/io/fabric8/kubernetes/client/http/StandardHttpClient.java
index afe7b6490ce..5b0b078bac2 100644
--- a/kubernetes-client-api/src/main/java/io/fabric8/kubernetes/client/http/StandardHttpClient.java
+++ b/kubernetes-client-api/src/main/java/io/fabric8/kubernetes/client/http/StandardHttpClient.java
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@
 import java.util.concurrent.CompletableFuture;
 import java.util.concurrent.CompletionException;
 import java.util.concurrent.TimeUnit;
+import java.util.concurrent.atomic.AtomicBoolean;
 import java.util.function.BiConsumer;
 import java.util.function.Function;
 import java.util.function.Supplier;
@@ -52,9 +53,11 @@ public abstract class StandardHttpClient<C extends HttpClient, F extends HttpCli
   private static final Logger LOG = LoggerFactory.getLogger(StandardHttpClient.class);
 
   protected StandardHttpClientBuilder<C, F, T> builder;
+  protected AtomicBoolean closed;
 
-  protected StandardHttpClient(StandardHttpClientBuilder<C, F, T> builder) {
+  protected StandardHttpClient(StandardHttpClientBuilder<C, F, T> builder, AtomicBoolean closed) {
     this.builder = builder;
+    this.closed = closed;
   }
 
   public abstract CompletableFuture<WebSocketResponse> buildWebSocketDirect(
@@ -280,4 +283,22 @@ public <V> V getTag(Class<V> type) {
     return type.cast(builder.tags.get(type));
   }
 
+  @Override
+  final public void close() {
+    if (closed.compareAndSet(false, true)) {
+      doClose();
+    }
+  }
+
+  protected abstract void doClose();
+
+  @Override
+  public boolean isClosed() {
+    return closed.get();
+  }
+
+  public AtomicBoolean getClosed() {
+    return closed;
+  }
+
 }
diff --git a/kubernetes-client-api/src/test/java/io/fabric8/kubernetes/client/http/StandardHttpClientTest.java b/kubernetes-client-api/src/test/java/io/fabric8/kubernetes/client/http/StandardHttpClientTest.java
index 73f4e6fa1bf..f3664e9e9d4 100644
--- a/kubernetes-client-api/src/test/java/io/fabric8/kubernetes/client/http/StandardHttpClientTest.java
+++ b/kubernetes-client-api/src/test/java/io/fabric8/kubernetes/client/http/StandardHttpClientTest.java
@@ -265,4 +265,18 @@ public static Stream<Arguments> testRetryAfterParsingData() {
             10000));
   }
 
+  @Test
+  void testIsClosed() {
+    client.close();
+    assertTrue(client.isClosed());
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  void testDerivedIsClosed() {
+    TestStandardHttpClient childClient = client.newBuilder().connectTimeout(0, TimeUnit.SECONDS).build();
+    childClient.close();
+    assertTrue(childClient.isClosed());
+    assertTrue(client.isClosed());
+  }
+
 }
diff --git a/kubernetes-client-api/src/test/java/io/fabric8/kubernetes/client/http/TestStandardHttpClient.java b/kubernetes-client-api/src/test/java/io/fabric8/kubernetes/client/http/TestStandardHttpClient.java
index bbf69ff1d0b..4e75f151e64 100644
--- a/kubernetes-client-api/src/test/java/io/fabric8/kubernetes/client/http/TestStandardHttpClient.java
+++ b/kubernetes-client-api/src/test/java/io/fabric8/kubernetes/client/http/TestStandardHttpClient.java
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@
 import java.util.Map;
 import java.util.concurrent.CompletableFuture;
 import java.util.concurrent.ConcurrentLinkedQueue;
+import java.util.concurrent.atomic.AtomicBoolean;
 
 public class TestStandardHttpClient
     extends StandardHttpClient<TestStandardHttpClient, TestStandardHttpClientFactory, TestStandardHttpClientBuilder> {
@@ -39,15 +40,15 @@ public class TestStandardHttpClient
   @Getter
   private final List<RecordedConsumeBytesDirect> recordedConsumeBytesDirects;
 
-  protected TestStandardHttpClient(TestStandardHttpClientBuilder builder) {
-    super(builder);
+  protected TestStandardHttpClient(TestStandardHttpClientBuilder builder, AtomicBoolean closed) {
+    super(builder, closed);
     expectations = new HashMap<>();
     recordedBuildWebSocketDirects = new ArrayList<>();
     recordedConsumeBytesDirects = new ArrayList<>();
   }
 
   @Override
-  public void close() {
+  public void doClose() {
     recordedConsumeBytesDirects.clear();
     recordedBuildWebSocketDirects.clear();
     expectations.values().forEach(e -> {
diff --git a/kubernetes-client-api/src/test/java/io/fabric8/kubernetes/client/http/TestStandardHttpClientBuilder.java b/kubernetes-client-api/src/test/java/io/fabric8/kubernetes/client/http/TestStandardHttpClientBuilder.java
index 2c661e84a15..71bad6c6800 100644
--- a/kubernetes-client-api/src/test/java/io/fabric8/kubernetes/client/http/TestStandardHttpClientBuilder.java
+++ b/kubernetes-client-api/src/test/java/io/fabric8/kubernetes/client/http/TestStandardHttpClientBuilder.java
@@ -15,7 +15,9 @@
  */
 package io.fabric8.kubernetes.client.http;
 
+import java.util.Optional;
 import java.util.concurrent.ConcurrentLinkedQueue;
+import java.util.concurrent.atomic.AtomicBoolean;
 
 public class TestStandardHttpClientBuilder
     extends StandardHttpClientBuilder<TestStandardHttpClient, TestStandardHttpClientFactory, TestStandardHttpClientBuilder> {
@@ -30,7 +32,8 @@ protected TestStandardHttpClientBuilder(TestStandardHttpClientFactory clientFact
 
   @Override
   public TestStandardHttpClient build() {
-    final TestStandardHttpClient instance = new TestStandardHttpClient(this);
+    final TestStandardHttpClient instance = new TestStandardHttpClient(this,
+        Optional.ofNullable(instances.peek()).map(TestStandardHttpClient::getClosed).orElse(new AtomicBoolean()));
     instances.add(instance);
     return instance;
   }
diff --git a/kubernetes-client/src/main/java/io/fabric8/kubernetes/client/dsl/internal/AbstractWatchManager.java b/kubernetes-client/src/main/java/io/fabric8/kubernetes/client/dsl/internal/AbstractWatchManager.java
index b6e10849b2d..c11b6df435b 100644
--- a/kubernetes-client/src/main/java/io/fabric8/kubernetes/client/dsl/internal/AbstractWatchManager.java
+++ b/kubernetes-client/src/main/java/io/fabric8/kubernetes/client/dsl/internal/AbstractWatchManager.java
@@ -240,6 +240,11 @@ void scheduleReconnect(WatchRequestState state) {
 
   synchronized void reconnect() {
     try {
+      if (client.isClosed()) {
+        logger.debug("The client has closed, closing the watch");
+        this.close();
+        return;
+      }
       startWatch();
       if (isForceClosed()) {
         closeRequest();
diff --git a/kubernetes-client/src/main/java/io/fabric8/kubernetes/client/dsl/internal/BaseOperation.java b/kubernetes-client/src/main/java/io/fabric8/kubernetes/client/dsl/internal/BaseOperation.java
index dd351e94392..47d94ade223 100755
--- a/kubernetes-client/src/main/java/io/fabric8/kubernetes/client/dsl/internal/BaseOperation.java
+++ b/kubernetes-client/src/main/java/io/fabric8/kubernetes/client/dsl/internal/BaseOperation.java
@@ -1069,7 +1069,13 @@ private DefaultSharedIndexInformer<T, L> createInformer(long resync, Executor ex
     if (indexers != null) {
       informer.addIndexers(indexers);
     }
-    this.context.getClient().adapt(BaseClient.class).getClosed().whenComplete((closed, ignored) -> informer.stop());
+    informer.started().whenComplete((ignored, throwable) -> {
+      if (throwable == null) {
+        BaseClient baseClient = this.context.getClient().adapt(BaseClient.class);
+        baseClient.addToCloseable(informer);
+        informer.stopped().whenComplete((x, y) -> baseClient.removeFromCloseable(informer));
+      }
+    });
     return informer;
   }
 
diff --git a/kubernetes-client/src/main/java/io/fabric8/kubernetes/client/impl/BaseClient.java b/kubernetes-client/src/main/java/io/fabric8/kubernetes/client/impl/BaseClient.java
index 9c1f4996b45..cec202280a2 100644
--- a/kubernetes-client/src/main/java/io/fabric8/kubernetes/client/impl/BaseClient.java
+++ b/kubernetes-client/src/main/java/io/fabric8/kubernetes/client/impl/BaseClient.java
@@ -47,7 +47,10 @@
 import java.net.HttpURLConnection;
 import java.net.MalformedURLException;
 import java.net.URL;
+import java.util.Collections;
 import java.util.List;
+import java.util.Set;
+import java.util.WeakHashMap;
 import java.util.concurrent.CompletableFuture;
 import java.util.concurrent.Executor;
 import java.util.concurrent.ExecutorService;
@@ -90,6 +93,7 @@ public void onClose(Executor executor) {
   private Executor executor;
   protected KubernetesSerialization kubernetesSerialization;
   private CompletableFuture<Void> closed;
+  private Set<AutoCloseable> closable;
 
   private OperationContext operationContext;
 
@@ -103,6 +107,7 @@ public void onClose(Executor executor) {
     this.executorSupplier = baseClient.executorSupplier;
     this.executor = baseClient.executor;
     this.kubernetesSerialization = baseClient.kubernetesSerialization;
+    this.closable = baseClient.closable;
     setDerivedFields();
     if (baseClient.operationContext != null) {
       operationContext(baseClient.operationContext);
@@ -111,6 +116,7 @@ public void onClose(Executor executor) {
 
   BaseClient(final HttpClient httpClient, Config config, ExecutorSupplier executorSupplier,
       KubernetesSerialization kubernetesSerialization) {
+    this.closable = Collections.newSetFromMap(new WeakHashMap<>());
     this.closed = new CompletableFuture<>();
     this.config = config;
     this.httpClient = httpClient;
@@ -150,6 +156,14 @@ public synchronized void close() {
           httpClient.getClass().getName());
     }
     httpClient.close();
+    closable.forEach(c -> {
+      try {
+        c.close();
+      } catch (Exception e) {
+        logger.warn("Error closing resource", e);
+      }
+    });
+    closable.clear();
     if (this.executorSupplier != null) {
       this.executorSupplier.onClose(executor);
       this.executorSupplier = null;
@@ -398,4 +412,15 @@ public KubernetesSerialization getKubernetesSerialization() {
     return kubernetesSerialization;
   }
 
+  public synchronized void addToCloseable(AutoCloseable closeable) {
+    if (this.closed.isDone()) {
+      throw new KubernetesClientException("Client is already closed");
+    }
+    this.closable.add(closeable);
+  }
+
+  public synchronized void removeFromCloseable(AutoCloseable closeable) {
+    this.closable.remove(closeable);
+  }
+
 }
diff --git a/kubernetes-client/src/main/java/io/fabric8/kubernetes/client/informers/impl/DefaultSharedIndexInformer.java b/kubernetes-client/src/main/java/io/fabric8/kubernetes/client/informers/impl/DefaultSharedIndexInformer.java
index ab5fc877c41..8ebf3ed8e2a 100644
--- a/kubernetes-client/src/main/java/io/fabric8/kubernetes/client/informers/impl/DefaultSharedIndexInformer.java
+++ b/kubernetes-client/src/main/java/io/fabric8/kubernetes/client/informers/impl/DefaultSharedIndexInformer.java
@@ -166,6 +166,10 @@ public CompletableFuture<Void> start() {
     return reflector.start();
   }
 
+  public CompletableFuture<Void> started() {
+    return reflector.getStartFuture();
+  }
+
   @Override
   public SharedIndexInformer<T> run() {
     Utils.waitUntilReadyOrFail(start(), -1, TimeUnit.MILLISECONDS);
diff --git a/kubernetes-tests/src/test/java/io/fabric8/kubernetes/client/mock/DefaultSharedIndexInformerTest.java b/kubernetes-tests/src/test/java/io/fabric8/kubernetes/client/mock/DefaultSharedIndexInformerTest.java
index 4314e18d429..d49d949d7d6 100644
--- a/kubernetes-tests/src/test/java/io/fabric8/kubernetes/client/mock/DefaultSharedIndexInformerTest.java
+++ b/kubernetes-tests/src/test/java/io/fabric8/kubernetes/client/mock/DefaultSharedIndexInformerTest.java
@@ -1216,8 +1216,29 @@ void testClientStopClosesInformer() throws InterruptedException {
         .inNamespace("ns1")
         .runnableInformer(60 * WATCH_EVENT_EMIT_TIME);
 
+    animalSharedIndexInformer.start();
+
     client.close();
 
+    await().atMost(60, TimeUnit.SECONDS).until(() -> animalSharedIndexInformer.stopped().toCompletableFuture().isDone());
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  void testClientStopClosesInformerBeforeStarting() throws InterruptedException {
+    // Given
+    setupMockServerExpectations(Animal.class, "ns1", this::getList,
+        r -> new WatchEvent(getAnimal("red-panda", "Carnivora", r), "ADDED"), null, null);
+
+    // When
+    SharedIndexInformer<GenericKubernetesResource> animalSharedIndexInformer = client
+        .genericKubernetesResources(animalContext)
+        .inNamespace("ns1")
+        .runnableInformer(60 * WATCH_EVENT_EMIT_TIME);
+
+    client.close();
+
+    animalSharedIndexInformer.start();
+
     assertTrue(animalSharedIndexInformer.stopped().toCompletableFuture().isDone());
   }